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By Dr. Joseph Mercola
with Rachael Droege
Essential oils carry the physical properties of flowers and plants
in a highly concentrated form. They are, in short, the essence of
the plant and can provide therapeutic benefits in very small amounts.
The particles in essential oils, which come from various parts of
the plant such as the flowers, twigs, leaves or bark, can be inhaled
and absorbed through the skin and their use can be traced back for
thousands of years. Essential oils were even used in ancient Egyptian
times, and were made by soaking plants in oil and then filtering
the oil through a linen bag.
Most essential oils have antibacterial qualities and have varying
physical and emotional effects depending on the oil, such as stimulation,
relaxation, pain relief and healing. The most common ways to use
essential oils include:
- Aromatherapy
- Massaging them (blended with a carrier oil) into the skin
- Adding them to bathwater
- Using them in a compress
- Burning them in a diffuser
In The Maker’s Diet, Dr. Jordan Rubin recommends 14 essential
oils that have unique healing properties. He suggests putting five
to 10 drops (total) of these "top healing oils" into a
warm bath for a real "healing treat." Below you will find
five beneficial essential oils along with their uses. I encourage
you to check out The Maker’s
Diet to learn more about some of the more exotic, but highly
effective, essential oils available.
I'd also like to point out that essential oils are not the same
thing as fragrance oils. Essential oils come from plants while fragrance
oils are artificially created and often contain synthetic chemicals.
While they may smell good and are typically less expensive, they
will not give you the therapeutic benefits of organic essential
oils--and you don't want to be inhaling any synthetic chemicals!
So, please be sure that the essential oil you use is of the highest
quality and 100 percent pure.
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Sandalwood*
This scent is woody and floral, rich and sweet,
and is used for:
- Low self-esteem
- Insecurity
- Stress
- Enhanced sleep
- Female reproductive and endocrine health
- Urinary tract infections
- Bronchitis
- Stretch marks
- Depression
- Laryngitis
- Sensitive skin
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Cedarwood
Has a slightly sharp, woody and sweet aroma that
is useful for:
- Anxiety
- Skin problems like acne, psoriasis, dandruff
and dermatitis
- Arthritis
- Bronchitis
- Coughing
- Cystitis
- Stress
- Insect repellant
- Hair loss
- Tuberculosis
- Gonorrhea
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Peppermint
This well-known minty fragrance is used for:
- Mental fatigue
- Nausea
- Headache
- Exhaustion
- Vertigo
- Asthma
- Flatulence
- Sinusitis
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Lavender
The scent is fresh, sweet, and floral and is used
for:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mental fatigue
- Panic attacks
- Stress
- Oily skin
- Bruises
- Stretch marks
- Earache
- Chickenpox
- Hypertension
- Vertigo
- Whooping cough
- Flatulence
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Frankincense
This has a woody, spicy and slightly fruity smell
and is used for:
- Insecurity
- Grief
- Immune system stimulation
- Cancer
- Depression
- Allergies
- Headache
- Herpes
- Brain damage from head injuries
- Panic Attacks
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Coughing
- Bronchitis
- Scars
- Stress
- Stretch marks, stress
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Caution: Essential oils can produce very
strong and significant changes in tiny amounts. They must be used
with caution, especially during pregnancy. It is important to consult
someone knowledgeable in aromatherapy before experimenting with
these oils.
* Although sandalwood is a beneficial oil, the trees
must be felled to collect the product and there has been much over-harvesting.
Indian sandalwood is controlled by the Indian government, which
allows a limited amount of the essential oil to be traded on the
world market. However, due to its high value sandalwood may be produced
illegally without replanting programs in place. There is concern
that this oil should be on the endangered list and many essential
oil producers are contemplating not selling it, so you may want
to seek an alternative oil, such as Western Australian sandalwood.
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Make Sure You Sleep Well
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